title: Prognostic significance of c-myc mRNA expression assessed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR in patients with colorectal cancer.
abstract: To clarify the prognostic value of the c-myc oncogene mRNA expression levels in human colorectal cancer, samples obtained from 35 surgically resected tissues were examined by the semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Overexpression of c-myc mRNA was detected in 22 cases (63%). Although there was no correlation between c-myc overexpression and the depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, or Dukes' stage, the patients with c-myc overexpression had metastatic recurrences significantly more frequently than those without it (29% versus 0%, p<0.05). The disease-free survival rate at 5 years was significantly lower in patients with c-myc overexpression than in those without it (70% versus 100%, p<0.05). These results demonstrate that c-myc mRNA overexpression as assessed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR may be a useful prognostic indicator in patients with colorectal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery I, Oita Medical University, 1-1 Idaigaoka, Hasama-machi, Oita, 879-55, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kakisako
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miyahara
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uchino
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Adachi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kitano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011379:Prognosis; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D015996:Survival Rate; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm